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Convict Francis MacNamara 'Frank the Poet ' Francis MacNamara, known as Frank the Poet, was assigned to the Australian Agricultural Company as a shepherd at the Company's holdings in the vicinity of the Peel River. When the Company assigned him to work in the coal mines of Newcastle he objected. He wrote the poem 'A petition from the Australian Agricultural Company's Flocks at Peel's River on Behalf of the Irish Bard' and 'For the Company Under Ground', which voiced his antipathy toward working in the mines.After being sent to an iron gang further south near Braidwood, he embarked on the life of a bushranger when he joined with several other absconders to form a formidable band of outlaws whose members included ; John Jones, per Lady Macnaughton; Edward Allen, per Asia; William Thomson, per Asia and William Eastwood, per Patriot . In 1842, they were convicted of being illegally at large with fire-arms and sentenced to transportation for life to a penal settlement - Van Diemen's Land
For the Company Under Ground When Christ from heaven comes down straightaway All his Father's laws to expound MacNamara shall work that day For the Company under ground
When the man in the moon to Moreton Bay Is sent in shackles bound MacNamara shall work that day for the company under ground
When the Cape of good Hope to Twofold Bay Comes for the change of a pound MacNamara shall work that day For the company under ground
When cows in lieu of milk yield tea And all lost treasures are found MacNamara shall work that day For the company under ground
When the Australian Company's heaviest dray Is drawn 80 miles by a hound MacNamara shall work that day For the Company under ground
When a frog, a caterpillar and a flea Shall travel the globe all round MacNamara shall work that day For the company under ground When turkey cocks on Jews harps play And mountains dance at the sound MacNamara shall work that day For the Company under ground
When Christmas falls on the 1st May And O'Connell's King of England crown'd MacNamara shall work that day For the Company under ground.
When thieves ever robbing on the highway For their sanctity are renowned MacNamara shall work that day For the Company under ground Nor over ground
Attributed to Francis McNamara (Frank the Poet)
One Sunday morning as I went walking
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